The 5 Best Beer Cities in America

The U.S. of A. is going through a beer revolution—pledge allegiance (and raise a glass) to our country's capitals of brew

October 2012

Photo: Hagop Kalaidjian

Los Angeles The New Frontier of Beer

L.A.'s nightlife is notorious for being more about the scene than the drinks. But of late, this city of saketinis and sprawl has lit up with joints pushing craft beer, and every one of them feels like it couldn't exist anywhere but Los Angeles.

Right now, the city's best bars for suds tend to be run by one of two beer gurus. Ryan Sweeney owns the windowless faux-speakeasy Verdugo (Glassell Park), the chill-by-day, party-by-night Surly Goat (West Hollywood), and Little Bear (Downtown), where you'll want to wash down the Stilton cheeseburger with a Unionist Belgian pale ale by Eagle Rock Brewery.

Then there's Tony Yanow, co-founder of Golden Road Brewing (one of two city breweries, along with Eagle Rock). He also owns Echo Park's Mohawk Bend bistro—California-fresh food and seventy-two taps—and Tony's Darts Away in Burbank, which strongly resembles a BigLebowski set. Instead of a White Russian, you want Russian River Brewing Co.'s Redemption, a rare blonde ale brewed in Santa Rosa.

Late at night, though, the pick is a giant pretzel and an even more giant glass of something German at the Standard hotel's rooftop Biergarten. There you'll have two classic L.A. views to choose from: the glittery, beautiful skyline and the glittery, beautiful women.—Christian Debenedetti